Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1887-12-16
CuItivating the Pear Tree.

The following interesting paper was
read a a recent meeting Of the Horti
cultural Society of Miami County, Ohio:
The pear is not native of this CONT
nent, but belongs to Europe and Asia,
where it may be found in its wild or
primitive state. There it exhibits more
thrift than the apple, and grows to
greater dimensions. From the East it
has been carried to our continent, where
it has found a soil adapted to its growth,
and a climate calculated to more fully
develop the fruit The pear is said to
have been known to survive the change
of seasons for 800 years probably that
was before the introduction of blight,
and to attain to an enormous size, as
the great tree of Herefordshire, England,
which shades half an acre, and has pro-
duced in one season 800 bushels of
fruit: or the famous tree in the vicinity
Of Fincennes, in our own country,
which, at the age of forty years, pro-
duced $50 bushels of fair fruit The pear
is not only profitable as fruit tree, but
the wood is fine grained and heavy, and
Yankee ingenuity has succeeded IN max
ing fair quality of ebony therefrom.
The soil for the pear should be toler-
ably heavy clay loan, with heavy clay
subsOil, we'll underdrained, although
some varieties do we'll on a gravelly sub
soil. In fact, the pear will succeed in
greater variety of soil and climate than
any other of our cultivated fruits. There
fore, if you have the most desirable
situation, all will be we'll; if not, select
the best you have. Having determined
where and how many trees we will plant,
the selection of varieties should be de-
termined by the object for which we
plant. If for market, l would plant few
varieties, say Madeleine, for very early;
Bartlett, Duchesse Beurre dan Ou and
Lawrence If for amateur purposes, or
for home use, | would plant about as
follows, which | will name in the order
of ripening: Madeleine, Tyson, Bartlett,
Sheldon, Seckel, White DOyenne, Ouch
esse, Beurre d'AnjOu, Lawrence and
BeuTe Easter, or some other late variety.
This will give us an abundance OF
choice fruit through the season.
If possible, 90 in person to some reIl-
able nurseryman and have him take two
or three stout assistants to his twO-year-
old trees (have none older; select d good
Stocky tree have it taken up in your
presence and Immediately messed, that it
may not dry or come in contact with the
air for any length of time, for therein
lies the length of life and thrift of your
trees Then pay the nurseryman we'll
for his extra trouble. The ground hav-
ing been previously prepared for deep
blowing in the fall, turning under lib
eral supply of manure, and marked
twenty-five feet each way, dig two feet
square and one and half deep, fill with
rich loan to the proper depth to receive
the tree, which should be a very little
deeper that it stood in the nursery. The
soil should be tramped well around the
roots and watered, if dry; then two
inches of dry soil should be put on top:
The soil should be carefully cultivated
for a few years, or until the trees com
mence bearing. Then, with an occa-
sional top-dressing, they will be able to
care for themselves, and you may invite
your friends to accompany you to the
pear orchard, where, with honest pride
you may call his attention to the golden
tints of the Bartlett. the magnificent size
of the Duchesse, and the rich brown
russell of the ever loved Seckel; and
there fill your basket; carry them to
your better half, and then to the better